Today's Poll: What kind of stores would you like to see open up downtown?

Brothel???? This isn't Albany ya know

speaking of Present Tense book store, I found this great link on their website...a great look back at the Batavia that once was. Lots of pictures of old downtown before urban renewal.
Batavia sure didn't lack for a variety of downtown businesses.

http://www.presenttensebooks.com/events/HistoricBatavia/index.html

I really miss the newsstand/magazine type store. Anyone remember Marshalls on Jackson St? Also a small grocery store -being the only grocery stores are on the outskirts of the city-especially once the new senior apartments are done at the old St. Jerome.

Thanks for the link, Jeff. They brought back some old memories

Chelsea and I are still throwing the bakery idea around. But right now we are more worried about taking care of the wedding. July 17th is only 5 months away from tomorrow.

i would love to see a bakery that corners a niche market
gluten free.....how many people go with out a birthday cake ,,,,or donuts,,,,pies.....pizza....my wife has not had pizza in 5 yrs.....
think it would be nice

I like the Idea of a pawn-consignment shop...It could be set-up In the old Super Duper..people could rent spaces for the day or week or actually set up a shop>>The store could be used to sell all sorts of stuff including donuts

I have been in one of these stores http://www.dashsmarket.com/index.jsp and liked it. The stores are smaller than Wegmans so it would fit nice in the empty market we have here. My fear is it would not do well because they sell premium products, premium products cost more.

About Dash's Market
Our goal at Dash's Market has been to create a shopping experience that combines the convenience of a smaller, more user-friendly store with great prices, while offering unique products and services and superior customer service.
Award Winning Meats
The best meals start with the best cuts of meat. At Dash's you will find only the very best grades of beef. USDA Choice, USDA Prime and our exclusive to the market USDA Dry Aged Prime Beef, only carried by the finest steakhouses in the country. You will find a large selection of all natural products, beef, pork, Springer Mountain chicken and our own Amish natural chickens. Lamb and Veal is only the best US product available. The best for last is our award winning store made fresh daily, Italian Pork and Chicken Sausage. Now made with natural sea salt, 35% lower in sodium. For entertaining and holidays made special - Think Dash's!
Seafood
Healthy and delicious, Dash's has the largest selection of fresh seafood in W.N.Y.! From the shores of Hawaii to the docks in Boston, Dash's offers only the very best in seafood available.
Fresh filets, shrimp, sea scallops, shellfish, crab, catch it fresh at Dash's Dock
Garden Fresh Produce
At Dash's Market our produce is all about freshness and variety. We only secure the freshest produce available from around the world and our local farming partners. With a large variety of organic produce Dash's continues to offer products for a healthier lifestyle for you and your family.
Deli & Specialty Cheese
Your will find the largest selection of local fresh deli meats and cheeses. From Sahlen's, Battistoni, Red Osier and Yanceys to name a few. Also a wide variety of meats and cheeses from around the world. Try our EVOO infused cold cuts, extra delicious extra nutritious, Creata Farms Gourmet Deli Meats. Rich in antioxidants and healthy monounsatatured Fatty Acids. Remember our Deli can provide all you need for any celebration, large or small with an assortment of Entertaining Platters, prepared specially for you.
Dinner in a Dash and Prepared Foods
Our highly trained culinary team creates a wide array of fresh dishes daily. Only using the best ingredients. We offer a unique blend of American and European cuisine, restaurant quality at supermarket prices. Panko chicken, eggplant parmesan, roasted salmon and our famous stuffed hot peppers are a few menu items. Together with many sides and salads, let Dinner in a Dash be your next meal stop.
•Famous Friday Fish Fry
•Catering, pickup , drop off or let us cater you next event or party on site
•LT's olde fashion subs and pizzas, our newest partner available at our Clarence location, 8845 Main Street.
Bakery
Everyday the Dash's Market Bakery offers you an astounding assortment of fresh-baked goodness for you to enjoy including all kinds of breads, rolls, pastries, muffins, croissants, cookies and pies.
We also offer a variety of distinctive Artisan Breads everyday including Dash Family's traditional D'Addezio's Own Italian Bread, French Baguettes and a wide selection uniquely flavored breads.
We have partnered with the very best in bakery products in W.N.Y. Handmade, Artisan quality LeMetro breads are by far the finest quality bread available to the market, exclusively at Dashs'. The highest quality sweets, Danish's and fresh gluten free products (Fridays & Saturdays) from the Famous Vin Chet Bakery. Dash's has also teamed with Bagel Jay's to provide you with W.N.Y. best bagels.
We're baking fresh in the market right now, so stop in, take a deep breath and enjoy!
Spot Coffee and Pastry
Stop by Dash's for a fresh cup of Spot coffee and a pastry to fill you sweet tooth. From handmade cheesecake to our famous cannolis, we have a dessert that is right for you or your whole family!! Celebrate with a custom decorated cake, for that special occasion, from our pastry chefs.
Grocery
In addition to your everyday items, Dash's offers a wide variety of natural, organic and unique specialty food items. We offer all of your favorite, local brands such as Weber's, Di Camillo, Chefs, Mayer Brothers, Gondola Pasta, Ilio DiPalo's, Chiavetta's and Perry's. For the food adventurers we have everything from Stonewall Kitchen products to the full line of Roland Products. We also carry the complete line of Gia Russa Imported Italian product, just for the Italian in all of us. When the recipe calls for something unique, we will have it for you at Dash's!

Doug have your wife check out the pizzeria in Leicester. Last time I knew Mondays was Gluten free day where they make gluten free pizzas and other baked goods.

I agree with the shed guy (Doug Mcclurg). Maybe they could use the old Jubilee/Martins Building and parking area to set it up like Clarence has going on Rt 5. Its a shame that building and space is being wasted. One big Hometown Flea Market ! Pay for the space and you can buy,sell, or swap ! Promote it as going green and keeping the money here !

I think there was talk about Dash's before Latinas decided to open up(then close)-another small market the Batavia people should talk to are the Budweys-they have a couple smaller markets in the northern Buffalo area- I just wonder if there would be enough parking now-that lot always seems pretty full now.

As co-owner of Present Tense I find it very discouraging that there were 6 requests for a book store downtown. We have been in business for nearly five years and have advertised in just about every venue and format we can think of, from the Pennysaver to newspapers, brochures, online, in event programs, a cable television ad, and have had a link right here on The Batavian for nearly a year. We have sponsored a girls' softball team for the past 3 years and donate gift certificates or merchandise to various causes whenever possible. We have 4-5 signs in front of our building and host events - from book signings with both local and nationally known authors to workshops to fundraisers for area nonprofits - every month.

How is it, with all of our efforts at marketing and community involvement, that so many people still have either not come in or don't know we are here? If you haven't been in yet, or if you've never visited an independent bookstore, stop in and see what we offer. We have a large selection of new and used books that is comparable to the big chains, and if we don't have something in stock we can get it in for you - next day in many cases and with no additional shipping charge. We aren't a chain store, but we offer at least the same level of service while attempting to create a unique and satisfying shopping experience.

When we opened 5 years ago we wondered why there wasn't a large chain book store already in the area. Looking at statistics from the National Retail Federation, at least one reason became clear: Genesee County does not match the desired demographics for a large store to locate here - our income is too low and our education is not advanced enough to match the location criteria they favor. We decided to give it a shot and opened a bookstore here anyway. Why not support a local entrepreneur that sees this community as more than a statistic instead of lamenting the fact that the big guys have passed us by?

Hi Peter & Chelsea Please contact me I would like to discuss the bakery with you I am looking at doing the same thing in Batavia! :) In the process of purchasing some real estate to make it happen. My email is TonishaPrice@gmail.com.

I'm a huge fan Darrick. I don't make it in nearly as often as I would like but I do make it in several times a year. I love the selection and if there is something that you don't have, Erica is always happy to order it. I'm going to try to make it in this weekend and get some more pineapple ginger tea, my personal favorite, and pick up a copy of C.M. Barons' book. I heard it's really good.

Thanks, Beth. We do have a great base of loyal customers and we are very appreciative of your support. It's just frustrating to see that despite our best efforts, there are still those who either don't know we are here or haven't bothered to stop in and check us out, yet still think there should be a bookstore downtown. Hopefully this discussion helps make people aware of what is already available to them downtown, and in the meantime gives us a chance to thank the people who have supported us here for the first 5 years!